In this series we’ll take a fresh look at resources and how they are used. We’ll go beyond natural resources like air and water to look at how efficiency in raw materials can boost the bottom line and help the environment. We’ll also examine the circular economy and design for reuse — with an eye toward honoring those resources we do have.

While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they can sure help. Through this series, we’ll explore how initiatives like curbside compost pick-up, rebates on compost bins, and efficient appliances can help families reduce their impact without breaking the bank.

Despite decades -- centuries even -- of global efforts, slavery can still be found not just on the high seas, but around the world and throughout various supply chains. Through this series on forced labor, sponsored by C&A Foundation, we’ll explore many different types of bonded and forced labor and highlight industries where this practice is alive and well today.

In this series we examine how companies should respond to national controversy like police violence and the BLM movement to best support employees and how can companies work to improve equality by increasing diversity in their ranks directly.

Compost is often considered a panacea for the United States’ tremendous food waste problem. Indeed, composting is a much better option than putting spoiled food in a garbage can destined for a landfill.

Food & Agriculture

Move over, Iron Man. A new kind of “superfood” is emerging that promises to save more lives than your high-tech armor ever could. The Moringa Tree is a plant native to parts of Africa and Asia renowned for its nutritional value – each leaf contains seven times the Vitamin C of oranges, four times the vitamin A of carrots, four times the calcium of milk, three times the potassium of bananas and twice the protein of yogurt.

Soil is the most diverse ecosystem on the planet. Just one teaspoon contains as many as one billion bacteria, which provide vital services to support the growth of plant species and the myriad creatures who feed on them. Without healthy soil, everything from human health and food security to the resilience and biodiversity of the planet is at risk.

Hyundai’s latest ad about a man who tried to commit suicide by inhaling gas fumes in his garage but failed because the Hyundai he was in output 100 percent water emissions, was met with outrage. What does this latest marketing blunder tell the rest of us about sustainable marketing?

Ethanol has seen several hiccups as of late. A drought has caused water shortages wreaking havoc on corn crops, driving up the price of ethanol fuel and jeopardizing its long-term viability. Increased costs and dwindling demand has already caused 10 percent of the nation’s ethanol plants to halt production. According to the USDA, the record-high corn prices could spike by as much as 19 percent in 2013.

The more nuanced aspects of the GM debate are beginning to find voice. Leading environmentalists, including two of the UK’s highest profile ones, Jonathon Porritt and Tony Juniper, say that their minds are not closed as to the future of GM.

World Water Day this year highlights the role of cooperation in managing the many competing needs for the resource, a topic near and dear to Future 500’s heart. Demand for water is surging as global population booms and developing economies continue their steady hum. Meanwhile, climate change is projected to greatly alter water supply, placing additional strain on … Continued

“We need women playing a role at all levels, from product development to government policy – alongside their role as consumers, making choices for themselves and their families. Many women do not realise the huge impact they could have on society and the environment.”

This post first appeared on GreenBiz and can be viewed here. In recent weeks, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Clorox’s Green Works have been the targets of sometimes scathing criticism for launching sustainability-related campaigns. These campaigns have been described by some as “breathtakingly dumb,” “ridiculous” and “not so sustainable.” While each campaign is different, all three strive to … Continued

Why we should make sure water crises are not wasted, how water becomes the Achilles’ heel of fracking, the need to focus on water management in the agriculture sector and the importance of overcoming the “Yuck Factor.”